Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth traditionally bring worry or a sense of anxiety and distress, particularly among Black women that face historical and contemporary anti-Black racism. We employed two frameworks to assess manifestations of anti-Black racism, structural racism and obstetric racism , as predictors of worry about pregnancy and birth within the Black reproducing community. Methods: In a secondary cross-sectional analysis, we analyzed data from Black women in the Giving Voice to Mothers study who completed all relevant items ( n = 260). We conducted descriptive analyses and logistic regression models to explore how worry about pregnancy and birth for the Black reproducing community varies with experiences of obstetric racism and different manifestations of structural racism. Results: Approximately 71% of the sample worried about pregnancy and birth for themselves and their community. Black women who experienced obstetric racism were statistically significantly more likely to be worried about pregnancy and birth experiences compared to Black women who did not. Furthermore, when structural racism was manifested and measured as hidden resources, among Black women reporting fewer pregnancy and birthing care options for women of color, those who experienced obstetric racism during care were 15.6 times more likely to worry about pregnancy and birthing experiences than those who did not (OR 15.667; 95% CI 1.348–182.058). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the complexity of racialized harm enacted against Black women during the perinatal period and underscore the ways in which obstetric racism and contexts of structural racism powerfully shape the meaning and subsequent emotional impact of pregnancy and birthing while Black.

Background: When examining prenatal care utilization rates, African American women were more likely to receive inadequate prenatal care. Yet, research about African American women’s prenatal care experiences fails to account for how their experiences may vary by socioeconomic status and insurance type. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide African American women on Medicaid with the opportunity to speak to what they found to be meaningful during their interactions with their prenatal care provider using an intersectionality framework.Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with pregnant African American women (n = 20) receiving Medicaid who were in their second or third trimester of pregnancy. Participants aged 18 to 45 years were recruited from various health care systems located in Ohio. Researchers applied a thematic analysis approach during data collection and data analysis.Results: Two overarching themes emerged about what these African American women considered meaningful when they talked to their prenatal care provider during pregnancy: (1) conversations around my prenatal care and (2) equipping me with knowledge.Conclusion: The results obtained through the application of intersectionality theory allow researchers the opportunity to create effective solutions, interventions, and policies that can be implemented to improve infant health outcomes and reduce the risk of infant mortality among pregnant African American women receiving Medicaid. Implications also suggested that public health practitioners in Ohio should increase their awareness of what is important to this population to build patient's trust in provider recommendations and patient’s confidence in shared decision-making.

Studies show Black women exhibit distinct depression symptoms and treatment experiences compared to other groups, often facing underdiagnosis and inadequate care. Unfortunately, knowledge about Black women with depression has been underexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of Black women’s experiences living with clinical depression. To address this objective, we conducted a survey among 28 Black women aged 18 years and older (mean age = 35) residing in the United States, utilizing open-ended questions administered through Qualtrics. The data was analyzed using a thematic analytical approach to identify emerging themes. Three primary themes emerged from the analysis (1) The Legacy of Scientific Racism, (2) Profiling and Underdiagnosis in Healthcare Settings, and (3) Stigma at the Crossroads of Community and Care. These results indicate a pressing need for healthcare providers to offer culturally appropriate services and to focus on eliminating racism and discrimination within patient care.

The present study aimed to provide Congolese refugee women with an opportunity to narrate firsthand experiences coping with resettlement challenges in the United States. Translator-assisted, face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with newly resettled Congolese refugee women (n = 20) aged 18 and older who arrived in the United States between 2011 and 2018. All participants were receiving assistance from a resettlement agency, located in the Midwestern US, at the time of the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive coding and thematic analysis. Three overarching themes were developed, indicating that Congolese refugee women adopt three main coping mechanisms to deal with challenges they face after resettling in the United States: (1) use of social support, (2) acceptance of the situation, and (3) spirituality. Resettlement support services, such as those provided by resettlement agencies, mental health providers, and community-based organizations, should integrate both economic and cultural dimensions into their services to address the complex physiological, mental, and emotional impacts of resettlement. These services should prioritize culturally and spiritually sensitive techniques that are linguistically accessible.